It's time to schedule an appointment for my son to see the dentist. I've decided that if he is accompanied by one of his siblings who is also seeing the dentist, he'll be less fearful. However, the only dentist that will allow this are those that have open bay areas. Yet, I can't expect Pook to be able to maintain in a room with several other children being treated at the same time. First, the sound of all those machines running at once will rattle him. I can only imagine if a child begins to cry. Last, I need to be able to accompany him when he goes back as he's hit this stage where he can't stand to have me out of his sight. So, the search begin.
I called several pediatric dentists only to find out they had a strict policy against parents going back with their children. OK, so I understand that many children do better without a parent in the room to see their theatrics....but to have NO exceptions at all?? I have no problem with my other two children being seen without me in the room, although their dentist always let me travel back and forth between their two rooms at will. Yet, in no way do I want my youngest, who isn't able to effectively communicate many things, to be taken back to a room by himself. My son isn't able to articulate the things that bother him or even hurt him. No matter how good the dentist is, or how much experience he has in dealing with children with sensory issues, each child is unique. So, first step is to just find a dentist who will allow me to go back with my child. After several phone calls, I was finally able to find a dentist who would allow me to come back. However, this dentist ONLY had an open bay area and in the event that it was to loud, would not be able to take him to a private room. So, more phone calls.
After a very exhausting and frustrating morning, I finally found a dentist that had all we required. First, there is an open bay area. So, both Pook and his sibling can go back at the same time. They'll be able to both have the same thing done, next to each other, in an effort to calm Pook. If the open bay area should become to loud and upset him to much, we will be able to take him to a private room. And, I can accompany him at all times if I feel this is necessary.
Now, after the four hours I spent online and on the phone searching for a dentist, I couldn't help but think that each dentist website should spell out their own specific rules. I also couldn't help but think of the recent news article of the pediatrician that was charged with so many child sexual abuse charges. Did his office have the same policy?
A few days after scheduling Pook's appointment, we were lying on my bed talking. He looked up at me and smiled and I was horrified to see that one of his teeth had a huge chunk taken out of the front of it. I begin to examine his teeth and saw that many of his teeth were chipped or had pieces missing. Now, several months ago I took him to the doctor because he was grinding his teeth so severely at night that it could be heard in the next room. I was assured that unless it interfered with his sleep, or his permanent teeth were coming in, it wouldn't be an issue. I later noticed that he grinds his teeth when he's excited. Apparently, his teeth grinding is an issue if he has so many pieces missing!
How hard does a child have to clench and grind their teeth to chip them? I recall my oldest son falling at school and hitting a counter. It pushed his front tooth up into his gum, but it didn't chip it! A bit panicky I typed "teeth grinding autism" into google only to find out I wasn't alone In addition to chipped teeth, some children actually grind their teeth down!
My mother assured me that Pook could be given a mouth guard to wear at night to prevent him from grinding his teeth. Soooooo, the child who has to have all tags cut out of his clothes, wears his socks inside out, can't wear shoes that fit (except boots), won't sleep with a different blanket, must have everything the same all the time, and flips out if you even attempt to have him try something new...............is supposed to wear something in his mouth each night????
